Newsham Pleased With Maiden NGTC Run Despite Drawbacks

British Touring Car race-winner Dave Newsham says there were positives to be taken from his first run in a Next-Generation Touring Car despite a frustrating maiden test.

The two-time victor joined Lea Wood at Donington Park to sample Speedworks Motorsport‘s NGTC Toyota Avensis, recently vacated by Tony Hughes, with a view to potentially joining the Christian Dick-run squad for 2013.

Newsham, who raced with ES Racing in 2012 in a Super 2000 Vauxhall Vectra, made the trip down south early in the morning admitted the day was an anti-climax as poor conditions blighted any realistic chance of competitive testing.

“My first run in an NGTC car was a bit of an anti-climax, the conditions were not great for us,” said the Scot, who is evaluating his options for 2013 after “several teams” displayed an interest in his service.

“The major advantage of an NGTC car compared to my S2000 car is the tyres. They are bigger, wider and last longer. All of these advantages were against us today as the bigger and harder the tyres they are, the harder it is to get heat into them.”

However, despite the problems, he found the experience positive – as it was as much about evaluating the team as it was the NGTC.

“This test was not only about the car though, it was to see how the team operate and that was very impressive.

“A huge thank you to all at Speedworks for this opportunity.”

Should Newsham drive for Speedworks in 2013, it would likely be alongside fan favourite Paul O’Neill, who is working towards a drive in the team backed by the now-retired Hughes.

Speedworks’ other 2012 driver, Adam Morgan, has also departed, to race a family-run Avensis.